Related articles

Most of those I have slept with are girls, school-going girls. Some girls are just 12 or 13 years old

Eric Aniva

Aniva told the BBC that he would not let his own daughter undergo this sexual cleansing.

The HIV-infected sex worker has since been arrested and charged with "defilement".

Presidential spokesman Mgeme Kalilani said: "While we must promote positive cultural values and positive socialisation of our children, the president says harmful cultural and traditional practices cannot be accepted in this country.

"All people involved in this malpractice should be held accountable for subjecting their children and women to this despicable evil."

BBC

Aniva with his wife - and former client - as well as his daughter

During his shocking BBC interview, Aniva told the reporter: "Most of those I have slept with are girls, school-going girls. Some are 12 or 13 years old.

"They actually are proud and tell other people that this man is a real man, he knows how to please a woman."

He said he is usually paid £3 - £5 by locals to perform the 'ritual'.

Despite the arrest and international condemnation, locals remain unrepentant.

Even Dr May Shaba, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Gender and Welfare, said: "We are not going to condemn these people."

One of the local elders, Chrissie, said: "There's nothing wrong with our culture.

"If you look at today's society, you can see that girls are not responsible, so we have to train our girls in a good manner in the village, so that they don't go astray, are good wives so that the husband is satisfied, and so that nothing bad happens to their families."

BBC

Aniva with a root he grinds up to drink before having the 'sexual cleansing'

Dr Howard Kasiya, director of the Adolescent Girls’ Advocacy Network of Malawi, told The Guardian that the ritual was "often a death sentence for girls."

He said: "Malawi has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world and 10 per cent of the population is HIV-positive."

A local girl who was forced to undergo the cleanse told the BBC: "There was nothing else I could have done. I had to do it for the sake of my parents.

"If I'd refused, my family members could be attacked with diseases – even death – so I was scared."

Malawi only banned child marriage last year after raising the legal age of marriage from 15 to 18 – something activists hoped would stop these sickening sexual initiations.